Batting-practice cage



BEST AVAILABLE COPY F. K. Fim/.WGH

BATTNG PRAQEICE CAGE Filed Febnl, i926, 2 sneets-sheet 1:

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Patented July 6, 1926.

BEST AVAILABLE COP\ Laar/53 PATENT oFFlcaf FREDERICK K. FLAUGH, OF NEWYORK, N. Y.

BATTING-PRACTICE CAGE.

Application led February The present invention is concerned with theprovision of a porta-ble batting practice cage for outdoor use, aprimary object of the invention being to provide a cage which willgreatly reduce the number of balls fouled into the. stands and lostduring batting practice:

There are at present in use, a number of so called batting cages whichserve no practical purpose, except as a back stop when there is nocatcher. behind the batter. These relativelysmall cages serve to stoponly such low fouls as are deiected directly rearwardly from the bat. Inconsequence, even with these cages in use, every major league ball clubloses thousands of dollars worth of baseballs `in a season during thebatting practice lperiod in addition to all of the balls which arenecessarily lost` during the course of a game.

The cage of the present invention is adapted to greatlyreduce this Wasteby proriding an apparatus which will catch a great majority of the ballswhich are fouled off the bat during batting practice regardless of thedirection in which the balls may be struck.

A further object of the invention is to provide a batting cage of thischaracter of simple, practicalconstruction, which will be rugged,.durable and efficient in use, which may be readily transported to andfrom its position on the field, and which may be folded or collapsed'sothat it will occupy a relatively small amount of storage space.

. Further objects of the invention are to provide a batting practicecage so constructed that there is no danger of injuring a batter orcatcher by foul balls which carom olf the frame Work of the cage, and acage which may be manufactured with comparative economy.

With the above noted and other objects in View, the invention consistsin certain novel features of construction and combinations andarrangements of parts, aswill be more fully hereinafter set forth `andpointed out in the claims. The invention may be more fully lunderstood'from the following description in connection ,with the accompanyvingdrawings, wherein.-

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a batting practice cageembodying thepresentl inven- -tion,y thevdotted lines indicating the position athene'plate, and. the base lines which' ma nected together by sleeves 17.

18, 1926. Serial No. 89,232.

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2, but showing a cage folded and readyfor transpoi-tation.

Fig. 4; is a fragmentary vertical` sectional view on the line H of Fig.2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail showing the hinge connections for thevertical frame posts of adjacent frame sections.

In the drawings I have used the'dotted lines to diagrammatic-.illyrepresent the home plate corner of a baseball diamond, numeral l beingused to designate the position of home plate, and numerals 11 and l2representing the general location of the first and third base lines. Abatting cage embodying the present invention preferably includes a backstop section 13, and a pair of wing portions indicated generally by thereference characters 14. The plane of the back stop when the cage is inoperative position, is transverse to the direction in which the ballsare delivered from the pitchers box toward home plate. The back stop isdisposed an appreciable distance behind the plate, providing ample roomfor a catcher to sta-nd behind the batter if desired. The wings 14diverge from the back stop when the cage is in use, and preferablyterminate approximately at the base lines l1 and 12 some twenty orthirty feet from home plate. The wings 14 are composed of a seris offrames l carrying heavy wire netting 16. Ordinarily two of the frames l5will suffice, and the frames are preferably formed` of relatively lighttubular frame members in the nature of piping. A

The adjacent vertical frame members l5a of the two frame sections arehingedly con- As seen in Fig. 5, the sleeves may include alignedapertured tongues 17zi pivotallyonnected by a pin li". Obviously variousother types of hinge connections might be provided.

Similar hinges are used for connecting the rear frame sections to theback stop section 13. The back stop section is also covered with wirenetting 18 at its upper portion. but preferably mounts a solid sheet ofmaterial 419 at its lower ortion. Inasmuch as the majority of balls wiich strike the cage at all, will Strike the lever halt of the backstop, the provision of relatively substantial sheet materiel yin the'lower half of the back stop 'frainefserves to prolongthe life of thebatting cage.

In order to render tbe'cagej-more substantial and less likelyY to tipover7 as well as to provide a convenient loungingsplacefor players whoare await-ing theii` turn at bet,

I preferably connect n series of-arenatelioril' zontal frame bers 2G tothe rear of the back stop section. These trarne members may be connectedby any suitable series ouprights -l. The 'skeleton iiraine detined'bythe 'inembers 2O andi serves the further' useful `purpose'oi -protectingone of the traction Wheels QQ'upon which the 'cage :is rolled to'antl'froni its'position on the. field. Preferablj;T tlie'tlacf tionWheel 22 is,the"steering wheel or' the dei'ice and has. its inde 23mounted in a fork '24, thenp' er endlof y'the fork lfreely swivelling inn 's yeeve 215' carried by rigid horizontal erin 26' projectingrenrnrdlyfrom the central yerti-cnl't'rar'ne menib r '21."

' dditionnl traction wheels 27 are -dl'so provided, these 'Wheels beingmounted on axles 28 .projecting laterally from the "forward verticalframe member' or" the rear frame sections of' each Wing.

As a further sxfeguardag'ainst the cage accidentally' 'tipping' over, Imay provide yground engagingbrecing means' at the free ends ot the outer'wing sections 15. For the salte. of illustration I have shown pivotbracing ba'r's 30 .'forni'edwith ground 'engaging pointed endspSi.: Theother ends of thearins 30 are piyoted' to Icollars 32'. on the forwardvertical' frame members of' the forward 'win-g sections '15. Toinoveth'e bracing armsv 3U .t0 inope 'zit-ive position itis merelynecessary to swing them upwardly :about theirpivots and' cause theirfree endo to be, received and held by spring;` clips 33. i

The use ot' such long Wing .sections may result in sonic slight4 delaywhen one -batter is replaced by another in the event that the new batter'.isconipelled to nfa'll; around' the ends of the Wings in order toreach his position et the plate. To' overcome this dii'iicu'lty, Iprovide entrance openings in the rear ends of the .renr Wing Sections.these openings being preferably protected by inwardly and rearwardlyprojecting rigid freine portions covered with netting 36.

)briousljgf the structure as above described would serve tointerception' fouls `going in any direction. 4In order to catch the highfouls, or the fouls which are 4directed upwardly from the bat, I utilizea net Li() prei` erabi'y'of solne sturdy netted fabric. The edges C thenet are connected to the upper edge of thebicl; stop sections, and ltothe upper edges or". the rear Wing sections. The slack orWsrd-edge ofthe net is (engaged .atits intermediate; portion with 'the'forivardendoi a, horizontsil erin 41 carried by an adguided for verticaladjustment in e hollow vertieelguide ln'ien'i-ber- 43 rigid with theback stop section. Rotation ot the standard in 'its'gnide is preventedby pin #te on the standard working in a slot 45 in the guide. Thestern-dard 'nniy be' locked in any desired position oi verticalndiusti'nent to tautly stretch the net iby. the use ot' a pin i6projected through .alignedopenings 47 in the guide and standard.'

In Fig. 'l-.'Ihare shown the betting' cage eided for transportationpurposes, so-that 'itin-aj; be \i"heeled to or from its position on thefield. As seen in this figure, the outer Wing sections "l are foldedinwardly Within the-inner-wii-ilgs sections. The free: ends oi the innerWing; sections :rre then also-folded inwardlyuntil the' two'- tractionWheels 27 assume.- :ip: rexiinately a'jpairallel position.V

@ne of' thefreine members 20 may `theirfbe grasped andthe enge Wheeledabout. 'The traction wlieel22 provides means for readily steering' thet'olldedveage.

Obviously n greet mztny changes and alter'ntion-s` might be nitide inthe' general forniv 'and erinnere-nient of parts described Withoutdci'nii'ting' troni the invention. Hence I do not wish to liniit nyselfAtothe details set forth', but' sheli' consider-myself at liberty toAnfinie such changes amd alterationszts fairly yiwll within the spirit.and scope ot' the ap- -pendei-l' el'e'inis.

I claim:

l. A batting practice cage including a back stop sectionz adapted to bedisposed a 'sufficient dista-nce behind heine plate on a baseballdia-mond to provide room for a catcher behind the plateT n pair of?divergin'g .win-gs pivoted to the sides ofthe birch stop section, thefree endsofsaid wings adapted to be disposed' adjacent the base linesatpoints well removed from the home plate, said win-gs havingopenings-therein to permit the'entranceoft" n batter through the Wings.

3. A batting practice cage including a. back stop section adapted to bedisposed a suiiici'ent distance vbehind home plate on a baseball diamondto provide room' for a 'catcher' behind' the plate`v a pair of divergingwings pivoted to the sides of the back stop sections, the free-ends ofsaid Wings adapted to be 'disposed adjacent lthe baise lines at pointswell removed from the homel plate, said wingsy having' openings therein`to *per* mit the v'entrai-nce of ai batter through the wings, andinvifardlyv directed screens preventing the passage of a ball through!the openings.

3. A batt-ing practice cage including a back- 'section' Iaxilsipted tobe disposed' -a Sadie-tent" distance" behind "heine:l plteon e baseballdiamond to provide rooin for a catcher behind the plate, a pair ofdiverging wings pivoted to the sides of the back stop section, the freeendsof said wings adapted to be disposed adjacent the base lines atpoints well removed from the heine plate, and a flexible nettingconnected to the tops o-f the rear portions of the wings and to the topof the back stop section.

4. A batting practice cage including back stop section adapted to bedisposed sufficient distance behind horne plate on baseball diamond toprovide room for catcher behind the plate, a pair of diverging wingspivoted to the sides of the back stop section, the free ends of saidwings adapted to be disposed adjacent the base lines at points wellremoved froin the hoine plate, a flexible netting connected to the topsof the rear portions of the wings and to the top of the back stopsection, and a vertically adjustable element connected to the slack freeedge of the net for tensioning the same.

5. A batting practice cage including` a back stopl section adapted to bedisposed sufficient distance behind honie plate on a baseball diamond toprovide rooin for a catcher behind the plate, a pair of diverging` wingspivoted to the sides of the back stop section, the free ends of saidwings adapted to be disposed adjacent the base lines at points wellremoved from the honie plate, said wings including a plurality offolding sections, and traction ineans supported on certain of said wingsections.

6. A batting practice cage including a back stop section adapted to bedisposed a sufficient distance behind home plate on a baseball diamondto provide rooni for a catcher behind the plate, a pair of diverging`wings pivoted to the sides of the back stop section, the free ends ofsaid wings adapted to be disposed .adjacent the base lines at pointswell removed from the home plate, each of said wings including a pair offoldable sections, and traction wheels at the forward ends of the rearsections.

7. A batting practice cage including a back stop section adapted to bedisposed a suflicient distance behind hoine plate on a baseball diamondto provide room for a catcher behind the plate, a pair of divergsesameSES? VMLABL CQY ing wings pivoted to the sides of the back stop section,the free ends of said wings adapted to be disposed adjacent the baselines at points well'reinoved from the hoine plate, a skeleton fraineprojecting rearwardly from the back stop section, a ,swivelled tractionwheel carried by said fraine, and traction Wheels carried by the wings.

8. A batting practice cage including a baclr stop section adapted to bedisposed a sufficient distance behind heine plate on a baseball diamondto provide room for a catcher behind the plate, a pair of divergingwings pivoted to the sides of the back stop section, the free ends ofsaid wings adapted to be disposed adjacent the base lines at points wellremoved from the home plate, a flexible netting connected to the tops ofthe rear portions of the wings and to the top of the back stop section,and a vertically adjustable element connected to the slack free edge ofthe net for tensioning the same, said eleinent including a horizontalarni projecting forwardly from a standard vertically adjustable in aguideway disposed behind the back stop section.

9. batting practice cage including a back stop and a pair of wingspivoted to the back stop, said wings being of sufficient length to reachthe base lines at points well forwardly of home plate when the back stopis disposed behind the plate a suflicient distance to provide rooin fora catcher.

l0. A batting practice cage including a back stop and a pair ofdiverging wings piv oted thereto, said wings including a plurality offolding sections.

11. A batting practice cage including a back stop, a pair of divergingwings pivoted thereto, said wings including a plurality vof foldingsections, and ground engaging bracing means carried by the free ends ofthe outer sections.

12. A batting practice cage including a back stop, and a pair ofdiveroing wings pivoted thereto, said wings including a plurality offolding sections, said back stop including a solid lower portion and are-A cessed upper portion, said wing sections be# ing covered with heavywire mesh.

FREDERICK K. FLAUGH.

